This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every persons position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the FAQ and RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate and remove the ads - it's free!

Social Security Act §1115
And the answer is no. Legislation written by Congress gives the "Obama Administration" the power to allow states to pursue experimental projects which promote the general goals of the legislation.

Luckily for you, the law said they could. So you can rest easily tonight.

But he didn't, and neither did the Obama administration.

No, truth is the point of the debate, and you refuse to acknowledge the truth.

So, these "demonstration projects" are evaluated how, when and by who? Have we, in fact, seen a reduction in the out of wedlock childbirth rate, an increase in two parent households or people being able to leave the TANF program in shorter periods of time and with less federal spending by those in states/areas based on implementation of these "demonstration projects"?

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

Like when the Republican Governor of Nebraska asked Obama to delay authorizing the Keystone Pipeline.

People with ODS blamed Obama for doing what the governor asked the, and now they're blaming Obama for this too.

That may well be the case, but republicans often argue to let states have more of a say. . . . unless of course the president is a democrat.

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE:I think the world vests too much power, certainly in the president, probably in Washington in general for its influence on the economy, because most all of the economy has nothing to do with the government.

So, these "demonstration projects" are evaluated how, when and by who?

The HHS (the Secretary, technically...but you know how that goes), and I would assume the how and when is determined when a plan is submitted and improved.

Have we, in fact, seen a reduction in the out of wedlock childbirth rate, an increase in two parent households or people being able to leave the TANF program in shorter periods of time and with less federal spending by those in states/areas based on implementation of these "demonstration projects"?

As of March of this year, no state had even applied for the waiver. So, even if a waiver had been applied and granted since then, it'd be too early to determine.

In a statement, the White House said that flexibility for the plan was requested by governors of both political parties to allow states to test ways to potentially make the program more effective.

“Ultimately, no States formally applied for State waivers, deterred in part by inaccurate claims about what the policy involves; therefore, the limiting provision would have no practical effect on any pending application,” the statement said.

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE:I think the world vests too much power, certainly in the president, probably in Washington in general for its influence on the economy, because most all of the economy has nothing to do with the government.

That's not what they said. They said Obama should have allowed congress the opportunity to weigh in. That's not exactly the same as illegal or lawless.

No. GAO said the administration could not proceed without Congressional approval. In other words, to proceed without Congressional approval is illegal.

"In early September the agency issued a report that stated the waivers the administration had announced could not be accomplished unilaterally and needed, instead, to be submitted to Congress for approval."

"It's always reassuring to find you've made the right enemies." -- William J. Donovan